HOCKEY; A Sweater Still Goes Up in Memory of Geoffrion

By JASON DIAMOS

Published: March 12, 2006

CORRECTION APPENDED

Bernie Geoffrion, a Hall of Fame right wing for the Montreal Canadiens, was never one to put off a party.

Geoffrion, nicknamed Boom Boom because of his legendary slap shot, died early Saturday morning in an Atlanta hospital at 75 after a brief battle with stomach cancer. But in accordance with his last wishes, the ceremony to retire his No. 5 jersey went on as scheduled Saturday night.

''Tonight marks the realization of his life's dream and brings closure to a magnificent career,'' Geoffrion's son Danny said during a 45-minute ceremony before the game between the Canadiens and the Rangers, the two N.H.L. teams Bernie Geoffrion played for.

Danny Geoffrion addressed the capacity crowd in English. His brother, Robert, addressed the crowd in French. With their mother, Marlene, and sister, Linda, looking on, the brothers then hoisted their father's No. 5 to the rafters of the Bell Center. It is beside the No. 7 of the Hall of Famer Howie Morenz, Bernie Geoffrion's father-in-law.

''What a tribute,'' Dickie Moore, Geoffrion's longtime teammate and a fellow Hall of Famer, said after Geoffrion became the 10th Canadiens player to have his number retired. ''Unbelievable, unbelievable, and so deserving. Boom and I go back a long time together.

''I talked to him on Wednesday and Monday. He promised he was going to be here. He did his best. But the fans just showed their appreciation. I'm sure they'd wish they'd done it 20 years ago. But, hey, this was something extra-special. I don't think you'll ever see this again. I'm sure he's up there smiling.''

A Montreal native, the charismatic Geoffrion played with the Canadiens from 1950 to 1964. He played on six Stanley Cup championship teams (1953, 1956-60).

In 1960-61, he became the second player in N.H.L. history to score 50 goals in a season, a milestone he reached in Montreal's 64th game. His teammate, the Hall of Fame left wing Maurice Richard, was the first, accomplishing the feat in 50 games in 1944-45.

Geoffrion led the league in scoring twice and was named its most valuable player in 1960-61; he was the rookie of the year in 1951-52.

Along with the Hall of Fame center Jean Beliveau, Richard and Geoffrion formed the Canadiens' longtime first line.

After a two-year retirement, Geoffrion returned to play two seasons with the Rangers (1966-68). He finished his career with 393 goals, 429 assists, 689 penalty minutes and 822 points in 883 games. He also had 58 goals and 118 points in 132 playoff games.

Geoffrion became the Rangers' coach for the 1968-69 season. Midway through that season, he stepped down because of stomach problems.

When reached by telephone in New York on Saturday night, the Hall of Fame right wing Rod Gilbert, who is from Montreal, said of Geoffrion: ''He was my idol growing up. His uncle used to hang out in my dad's blacksmith shop.''

Gilbert said he patterned his slap shot after Geoffrion's. ''I played against him when I came here,'' said Gilbert, who spent his entire career with the Rangers (1960-78). ''Then he came here to play with me. Then he coached me for a while. I'll always remember that.''

Geoffrion, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972, was also the first coach of the Atlanta Flames (1972-75). In 1979, he became the coach of his beloved Canadiens, replacing Scotty Bowman, who had guided Montreal to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships. At the time, Danny Geoffrion played for Montreal.

But recurring stomach problems forced Geoffrion to resign on Dec. 11, 1979, with the Canadiens leading their division.

''He filled a room up like Frank Sinatra,'' Gilbert said, recalling how Geoffrion loved to sing songs like ''My Way,'' which was played over the public address system Saturday during a video tribute.

Afterward, Moore was asked how Geoffrion would have reacted to the ceremony.

''He would be singing,'' Moore said with a tear in his eye.

Photo: Bernie Geoffrion

Correction: March 19, 2006, Sunday
A sports article in some copies last Sunday about Bernie Geoffrion, the hockey Hall of Fame right wing who died hours before the Montreal Canadiens retired his number, misstated the number of games he needed to score 50 goals in the 1960-61 season. It was 62, not 64. In some copies the article also misstated the year Geoffrion was named the National Hockey League's most valuable player (1961, not 1955); misstated the number of games he played in his career (883, not 823); and misstated the position he and Maurice Richard played. They were right wings; they did not play on the same line.